Major martyred in Pak BAT’s IED blast, jawan injured

Two Armymen, including one Major rank officer and an Army porter, were martyred in two separate incidents along the line of control (LoC) in frontier Rajouri district of Jammu division on Friday. In another attack on Friday, terrorists hurling a grenade on CRPF bunker in Jammu, but there were no reports of loss of life, police said.

According to ground reports, a Major rank officer, along with a soldier, received grievous injuries in an improvised explosive device explosion and later succumbed while another Army porter was killed in separate incident of ‘unprovoked’ ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Sunderbani sector.

Unofficial reports, however, claimed a Border Action Team (BAT) of the Pakistan Army may have targeted an Indian patrol in the forward area taking advantage of the inclement weather conditions and undulating terrain. It was suspected that members of the BAT team may have planted an IED in the forward area before retreating towards Pakistani side of the line of control.

Defence PRO in Jammu Lt-Col Devendra Anand later clarified, “An Improvised Explosive Device explosion took place near LoC in Naushera Sector (J&K) around 3.00 pm in which an Army Officer and a soldier got grievously injured. Immediate resuscitation and medical aid was provided, however, they succumbed to the injuries.”

Defence PRO said, “In another incident of unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops in Sunderbani Sector, an Army Porter Hemraj was shot at and grievously injured. The individual was provided immediate resuscitation and medical aid, however, he later succumbed to the gunshot wounds.”

The Army authorities have promised all possible assistance to the family of martyred Army Porter, he added.